My reviews are based on my personal experience with a product or event. I am not a professional product tester nor do I get paid for any of my blog posts.

The items that I post reviews on, have either been purchased on the internet or through a local vendor. Additionally I will review items that I got on sale, as a gift or as a sample from either the manufacurer or some other source.

Note: always read the manufacturers directions on how to properly use a product and craft carefully. Additionally, I am an Amazon Associate and may earn a few cents (literally) from your clicking on my Amazon links. Since they raised the minimum payout from earnings to $10 I haven't seen a credit for a while but eventually I will get one.

Every penny counts when trying to set a budget to get supplies to use for my reviews, tutorials and hauls. However, you do not have to use my links. You can use your favorite search engine to find the best price for your budget.

Me & My Big Ideas Warehouse Sale Haul



Me & My Big Ideas Warehouse recently had a big sale where I was able to purchase all types of planners and planner supplies at a discounted price.   Some items were sold individually at $3 and some items were sold in sets for $3.  I went with a friend and the photos below are what we bought. We split our purchases because we both knew we did not have the space to store too much supplies and it made sense to split up some of the sets (once we had purchased them).   Mambi is going to repeat this sale this coming weekend, so I thought I would post what we purchased so that you could have a better idea of what types of items were sold at the last sale. Before I go any further, I have to make the following notation: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases” from links listed in this blog post.  If you do not want to use my links, just do a search using your favorite search engine.

Just a note, it may seem like we bought a lot of items between us but our haul was one of the smallest that I noticed during this crazy shopping spree.

Below is what we purchased:

1.  The Happy Planner Sticker Sets (6 units per set) in:



















Each set was $3 but sells online at around $14 per book, so you can see what an amazing deal these sticker books were at that price.  Amounts were limited so you may not find these at the next sale. The same applies to the other items purchased.

2. The Happy Planner Sticker Sets (6 units per set) in:

  • Pastels Washi Book
  • Super Fun Washi Book
  • Magical Washi Book




3. The Happy Planner Stamp Combo SMPC (2 per Unit) with stamp


and Planner Mini Stampers




4. The Happy Planner Washi Tape Sets (2 Units) in:

  • Well Krafted Washi Tape
  • Peony Florals
  • Gold Washi Tape
























5.  MAMBI Makers - Water Color Transfer Paper (2 Units):



6. The Happy Planner - HP Clear Stamps - Decorative Journaling (2 units):



7. The Happy Planner - HPG Healthy Hero Pencil Pouch (2 units).





8.  MAMBI Sticks- Explorer Sticker Collection (6 Units): 








9.  Me & My Big Ideas - Clear Expressions - Die Cuts - Circle Quotes






10.  MAMBI Sticks - Explorer Sticker Collection (3 Units):

  • Big Words - Good Life Silver Foil
  • Big Words - Inspirational





11. MAMBI Sticks - Explorer Sticker Collection (3 Units):

  • Big Words - Today
  • Big Words - Be Your Gold Foil






12.  MAMBI Sticks - Explorer Sticker Collection (3 Units):

  • Big Words - Friends

13.  MAMBI Sticks - Explorer Sticker Collection (3 Units):

  • Big Words - Follow Your Heart
  • Big Words - Live Well
  • Big Words - Happiness is a Choice
  • Big Words - You Were Meant to Shine
  • Big Words - Dream Stickers
  • Big Words - Be Authentic Stickers
  • Woodland Animals Stickers










14.  Mambi Makers Coaster Kit (1 unit)



15.  The Happy Planner Create 365 Rose Gold Planner Cover (1 Unit)
Here is what it looks like opened up.


The planner easily slides into the cover.

It easily holds a well filled Happy Planner.


16. The Happy Planner Create 365 Black Planner Cover (2 Units) and The Happy Planner Girl 2019 Planner (Single Unit).  We each got one of the planner girl planners because they are really fun inside, plus they come with metal discs that are so much easier to use.



17.  The Happy Planner Girl Adhesive Pockets (2 Units) and The Happy Planner Girl Miss Maker Dashboard (4 Units)

Here is a better look at the Miss Maker Dashboard Unit.

And a look at the adhesive Pockets.


18.  Gold and Teal Fancy Tats Tattoo (3 Units).




19.  The Happy Planner Girl Plastic Bookmarks Glam Girl (2 Units)



20.  Mambi Stone Single Asst Greens (6 Units)



21. Mambi Stone Single Asst Clear (6 Units)



22. The Happy Planner Girl 365 Stackable Icons Stamps



23.  The Happy Planner Girl 365 Magnetic Clips - Grateful (2 Units), The Happy Planner Girl 365 Neon Elastic Bands (2 Units), and The Happy Planner Girl 365 Mini Elastic Bands (2 Units)



24. Mambi Makers Square Wood Photo Kit (Single Unit)

25. The Happy Planner Girl 365 Hard Cover (Single Unit)




25.  The Happy Planner Girl Mini Folders - Healthy Hero ( 2 Units), The Happy Planner Girl Clear Stamps- Miss Maker (2 Units)


As you can see, we got some really amazing deals at the sale. The lines to pay were really short at the cash only line, so if you are in a hurry then don't forget to bring along cash. Otherwise they did accept Visa and possibly MasterCard (we paid cash).  They did not take American Express or some of the other more common credit cards. Below is a picture of some of the many boxes of products that were available to purchase, as my friend put it...you will be hunting for good deals.


Here are some tips to make shopping a bit easier:

  • Bring Cash or one of the accepted credit cards
  • Wear Sunscreen (in case you have to wait in line to get in) and hat (if you are sun sensitive)
  • Bring a water bottle because with all those bodies inside the building shopping at the same time, it gets pretty warm.  Last time they sold water but it is so much easier to just bring it with you.
  • Bring Canvas or well made bags to carry your items in while you shop.  Your hands will be full fairly quickly and they do not have shopping carts or baskets.
  • Be patient, it is a sale and the lines can get long.  However the Mambi employees are so nice and do try to keep things moving.
  • Come early, because the parking lot gets full quickly.
So where is the next sale?  So fair they have not announced a new one but I know it will be held at a location that is easily accessible to the 405 freeway in the Fountain Valley area.  





Note: This is not a sponsored post. I am not employed or associated with Mambi or the Happy Planner. I just love the product line. I paid for all my purchases with my own funds.
































Tuesday Morning Haul - Dylusions by Dyan Reaveley



I do a lot of Tuesday Morning Store hauls because they are a great resource for buying art journaling and travelers journal supplies at a discount.  I decided to visit my local Tuesday Morning store to see if I could find any art journaling supplies and set a budget of $20.

The first item that I bought was a Dylusions Creative Dyary (diary) by  Dyan Reaveley for $6.99.  Ranger used a cute play on words by spelling the word Dyary instead of Diary to reflect Dyan's (the designer of this fabulous planner) name in the product title.  However, this does make it challenging when I google this product to get more information, since spell check is constantly trying to correct the spelling. The delusions "Creative Dyary" planner sells for around $16.99 on Amazon (the price can vary).  You can find out more information on Dyan Reaveley on her Blog or Website.  Before I go any further, I have to make the following notation: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases” from links listed in this blog post.  If you do not want to use my links, just do a search using your favorite search engine.




I enjoy the Dyan Reaverley line of products so getting this planner at that price was a cool score.  I will actually use these for an art journal and memory planner. One of the best features of the Dylusions Creative planners is that one side of each week is has the days of the week already filled in. They are non dated so you can easily start using the planner immediately. Additionally, some of the pages are already decorated with designs that the you can color in with your favorite colored pencils or makers.  The paper is multi media quality so it takes color well.

Some of the pages have various color patterns.  This makes it easy for those who like to decorate their planners pages to add stickers, washi tape and die cuts.


They are really pretty and personally, there a few pages that I don't feel even need any additional decorating (like the one below).



There are 52 weeks included in this planner but you don't have to use all of them. There is a video on YouTube where Dyan Reaverly explains some of the fun features of this planner and other fun products from her line.



The second item was the Ranger DYE61120 Dyan Reaveley's delusions creative dyray (planner) bag which I thought was so cute.  I love the various patterns on this bag and they are similar to some of the stickers that are available in her sticker book.   I also like that this bag has an elastic which makes it easy to attach to the above dylusions planner that I purchased.  This bag was $2.49 which is a lot cheaper than it is on Amazon.


I did not find anything else that I needed or wanted.  The total with tax came out to less than $12 which was below the $20 budget I had set for the day.  I think it was a pretty good haul for the amount I had to spend.  If you want to see a past haul I did at Tuesday Morning, then just click here to go to that post.


Note: This is not a sponsored post, I paid for everything with my own funds. Also I do have some links listed for Amazon but the stuff was cheaper at Tuesday Morning.  

Tombow VIP Club January 2019 Box Review


If you love Tomboy products then you will love the new Twin Tone markers colors that are included in the Tombow VIP Club monthly box for January 2019.  One of the things that I like about the Tombow VIP Club box is that it does not come automatically.  Each time that Tombow offers a VIP club box they have a preview on the website so that their customers can decide if they want to order it or not.  They do tend to sell out pretty quickly, so you may want to make sure you get your name on their mailing list to know when the next one is available. 

Before I go any further, I have to make the following notation: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases” from links listed in this blog post.  If you do not want to use my links, just do a search using your favorite search engine.


The January Tombow VIP Club box features their newest addition to their marker collection, the TwinTone Rainbow marker collection.  These TwinTone Rainbow Markers are double-sided markers with a broad bullet tip and an extra fine tip for more precise lines.

The Tombow VIP Club boxes always include a great insert that describes the included products and sometimes they have additional ideas and tips on how to use them.

Tombow Washi Tape

This box also included an exclusive set of Tombow Washi tape that are in fun patterns. One of the washi rolls matched the print of the new Tombow TwinTone Rainbow marker set.
Tombow Washi Tape

These rolls of washi are 15mm wide and 5m long.  I really love the colors and patterns on these washi tapes.  I love bright happy colors so I will use these up fairly quickly.

The box also included a Faux Calligraphy & Planner Doodle Insert.  One side has some easy step by step doodles and the other side features an exemplar alphabet.  The insert also has some quick tips at the top of the faux calligraphy side.  I think these will be helpful to help me with lettering and decorating in my journal.

The last item in the Tombow VIP Club box is 3 pack of Mini Size Glue tape (1/3 in x 276 in per applicator).  This mini size glue tape adhesive set is acid free and permanent.  I found them to be perfect for use in my art journals because the adhesive is so strong.

I paid a total of $25 for this kit which I feel was a great deal.  I would have paid that much for the marker set so I consider all the other cool items to be a bonus.  If you want to find out when the next Tombow VIP Club box is released, make sure you sign up on the Tombow website.  They also have some fun project ideas using their various products and for journaling tips on the Tombow blog.

You can often find good deals on Amazon for the Tombow products:


 

Disclaimer:  I do not work for Tombow. This post is not sponsored.  These are just my opinions and any links to Amazon that I may include could possibly give me a very small percentage towards my next purchase. You do not have to use my links. You can go to google and do a search for the product to reach it directly.





Last Minute DIY Snowman LED Shadow Box Project


I am always on the look out for fun last minute DIY gifts and this cute light up Snowman Shadow Box was just perfect for a hand printed project. These cute shadow boxes are sold at my local Micheal's Store unpainted and unfinished. They are really easy to work with and each one can easily be personalized to suit your own esthetic.  I used my new set of Folk Art Multi Surface paints (I have a Product Review if you want to learn more about these paints) by Plaid. 

Before I go any further, I have to make the following notation: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases” from links listed in this blog post.  If you do not want to use my links, just do a search using your favorite search engine.

Supplies Needed:

1.  Unfinished Snowman Artminds LED shadow box  or any other of their cute boxes.  The techniques are the same, you can just adjust to that particular box. These are found at the Michael's Craft Stores.

2.  Folk Art Multi Surface Paints in Licorice, Real Brown, Classic Green, Pure Orange, Cardinal Red,    
     Wicker White and Folk Art Extreme Glitter Paint in Sliver.
3.  Paint Brushes
4.  White Glitter and optional Silver Glitter in larger chunks.
5.  Clear Glue
6.  Ranger Glossy Accents
7.  Sheet of Glitter Paper
8. Batteries (size will vary with the box you purchase)


Step 1:
Open the package and remove the bottom of the shadow box, this will allow you to remove the inserts.

Step 2:
Sand all the pieces, being careful to not damage the lights or battery box.  Paint the interior and exterior of the shadow box with the Wicker White paint.  Use as many coats as you like until you get the finish you want. I used the Folk Art Multi Surface Paints which are fairly opaque so I only needed two coats.

Step 3:
Paint the trees in the front of the shadow box with the Folk Art Multi Surface paint in real brown. I also used the Wicker White for the snow flakes.  Once the paint has dried, you can use the Folk Art Glitter paint in Silver to accent the snow flakes.  After that has dried, use the clear glue to adhere the white glitter to the tree branches to make it look like it is snowing.



Step 4:
Once the front of the shadow box has dried, take the glitter sheet and measure it. Cut it to fit inside of the shadow box. Use the clear glue to adhere the glitter sheet to the shadow box.  Make sure to cut it so that you can still see the lights when they are turned on.

Tip: If you are unable to purchase a glitter sheet of paper, you can just paint the interior back wall blue and add some blue glitter using the clear glue.

Step 5:
Using the multi surface paints, begin to paint the inserts.  Allow to dry between coats.

Step 6:
Use the Ranger Glossy Accents to add some dimension to the roof of the house.  Allow to the Glossy Accents product to dry.

Step 7:
Use the Silver Glitter paint to accent the roof top and Pine Tree. If you want to really catch the light, then add a bit of chunky glitter to the areas you have painted with the glitter paint (before it dries).




Step 8:
Use the clear glue to adhere the white glitter to the snowman in the 2nd insert.

Then use the Folk Art Silver Glitter paint to add sparkle to the snowflakes. If you want to add even more sparkle, then just add a little chunky silver glitter to the painted surface before it dries.

Step 9:
Once all the parts have dried, re-assemble the box.

Step 10:
Add the batteries and enjoy the shadow box.



This was such a quick and easy project. It only took me two hours to finish the project.  The cost of the shadow box itself was less than $10.  I already had the Folk Art Multi Surface Paints and Folk Art Glitter Paint. You can find more ways to use the Folk Art paints at the Plaid website where they list all types of fun projects and tutorials.  Michael's Craft stores have these cute shadow boxes for each season.  I can't wait to see what they make available for Valentines day and Easter.



NOTE: I do not work for Plaid or Michael's Craft Store. They have not paid me for this review. I just really love their product lines and enjoy using various items in my craft projects and art work.  I have included Amazon Associate links to Amazon but you do not need to use them.  You can just do a search on google to find the closest retailer to you that carries these paints. As for the shadow boxes, you can find those each season at the Michael's Craft stores.  




















Stickii Club Review - November 2018 Retro Pack - Subscription


Stickii Club November 2018 Retro Pack

If you love holiday themed stickers then the November 2018 monthly delivery of the Stickii Club Retro Subscription pack is a must see.  For those who are not familiar with the Stickii Club, it is a monthly subscription service that sends out themed stickers packs.  They currently offer three choices:

  • Cute
  • Retro
  • and Pop


Each pack features different styles of stickers with different themes. For those who are not sure about whether or not they would like a certain collection, the Stickii club has a great instagram account where they feature previews of the upcoming sticker packs.  Each pack is easily identifiable by their envelope.

You can change your subscription by going onto the website and making the changes.  They usually state what the last date to make a change is,  but you can always contact customer service to make sure.
November Stickii Pack Retro 1

Anyway, as I was saying the "Retro" stickii pack theme for November was "Winter Wonderland"
November Stickii Pack Retro -Winter Wonderland

and it features some darling stickers with great details.  It is hard to see how cute these really are just through photos.
November Stickii Pack Retro -Winter Wonderland 2


Each pack also comes with a plastic storage sheet  (holder) which holds the entire kit.
November Stickii Pack Retro -Winter Wonderland 3

Each of the packs also come with a convenient corner sticker so you can easily reference which pack it is.
Corner Sticker and Sticky Pad for the November Retro Pack
The packs usually feature a cute sticky paper pad that reflects the theme for the month.  The price is really reasonable for what you get in these kits.  I currently pay $11 or $12 a month for my subscription for the Retro pack.  The price includes shipping which makes it a great deal for the amount of stickers in the packs.  Also, so far each shipment has been filled with high quality stickers that include at least one sheet of gold or silver foiled stickers.

The themes within each category change each month, so it is a good idea to follow the Stickii Club on their Instagram Account to see what the theme is going to be.


Disclaimer:  I am not employed or associated by the Stickii Club. I am a monthly subscriber who really enjoys their products.  Also, this post and the products discussed are not paid for by anyone but myself. The links in this post do not provide me with any income, they are there for your convenience only.  Also, keep in mind, that each person has their perception of anything and what I perceive may not be what you perceive.  You can agree or disagree with me.  It is just a part of life.  Happy Holidays!







Plaid Folk Art Multi-Surface Paints Review



The new Folk Art Multi-surface paint works on so many different types of surfaces: like glass, wood, multimedia papers, fabric, plastic, canvas, wood, and Terra Cotta.  The paint has a really vibrant satin finish that really pops on light colored backgrounds.  The paints are very versatile and friendly to the pocket book.  You only need to buy a few colors to be able to create so many types of creative projects.  I have a limited space in my house for art and craft supplies.  I have been searching for a good multi-surface paint and am so glad that Plaid created these.  I have been a big fan of the Plaid products since they came out with their gallery glass line.  My experience with the Plaid Folk Art line has been very positive. I know I can rely on their products to give me great results. The collection above is the 12 color Folk Art Multi-surface set from Amazon which was a great deal at $19.97.

I painted some sample swatches of the colors 

that I have so you can get an idea of how vibrant the colors are.



I also painted some sample swatches of the Folk Art Multi-Surface paint on a glass so you can see which paints are opaque 

and which are more translucent.  This paint is so versatile that if you use it on glass (and ceramics), you just need to follow the manufacturer’s directions to cure it so that it becomes top-shelf dishwasher safe (gentle cycle).  




The Plaid website states that the paints can also be used for outdoor projects.  I have not tested that out yet, but I am looking forward to using the paints to create some fun holiday outdoor and indoor décor.


They also did a great job on the bottles.  The front of the bottle has a great font that makes it easy to spot these paints in the store. 


The back of each bottles gives tips on how to properly use the paint and how to cure it on glass or ceramics.  You can also find this information on the Plaid website, as well as some fun projects.  The paints are also non toxic and made in the USA, so you know they meet the guidelines set by the government for these types of products.  



 This is only a small small of the beautiful colors available in this line. You can get a 16 piece set of the Folk Art Multi-Surface paint on Amazon that has some great colors to get started crafting.   There are a lot of colors and they even have metallic colors which I find quite useful when creating faux metal props and costume pieces.


NOTE: I do not work for Plaid. They have not paid me for this review. I just really love their product line and enjoy using it in my craft projects and art work.  I have included Amazon Associate links to Amazon but you do not need to use them.  You can just do a search on google to find the closest retailer to you that carries these paints.